Jarryd Hayne to help Syrian refugees after watching Sonny Bill Williams’ UNICEF video
Jarryd Hayne said he plans on helping Syrian refugees after watching New Zealand rugby union star Sonny Bill Williams’ United Nations Children’s Fund advertisement.
Hayne tweeted Williams that he wants to help “in anyway” he can after watching the latter’s UNICEF video campaigning humanitarian help to Syrian refugees, especially children. “ Awesome bro. Let me know if I can help in anyway,” Hayne said.
Williams, a UNICEF ambassador, experienced what it is like living in a refugee camp in Syria via virtual reality. The former heavyweight boxer has touched down in Lebanon to help raise awareness of the plight of children affected by the conflict in Syria.
“Seeing some of the pictures of my young brothers and sisters over there struggling in refugee camps especially in the Middle East, it’s pretty touching,” Williams said, reports Stuff. “They’re doing the best that they can with what they have.”
More than four million refugees of the Syrian Civil War have left the country during the course of the conflict. The refugee crisis began in 2011, when thousands of Syrian citizens fled across the border to neighbouring countries like Turkey and Lebanon.
According to World Vision, about 320,000 people have been killed, including nearly 12,000 children ever since the civil war started. Syrian children have also lost their privilege to enjoy life as violence and brutality overwhelm the nation.
Meanwhile, Hayne has yet to crack a spot into the San Francisco 49ers’ lineup after the Australian rugby league star was relegated to the team’s practice squad.
Hayne was reportedly close to reclaiming his active roster spot after Bruce Ellington, who replaced the Aussie rookie as the team’s primary punt returner, committed two muffed punts in two straight games.
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